Basket machine



May 14, 1940. w. F. NEWHOUSE BASKET MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet l a JXIVENTOR iflaerfMw/wasz BY: I v 1 7 ATTORNEY.

May 14, 1940. w. F. NEWHOUSE BASKET MACHINE I 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 3, 1938 ATTORNEY.

May 14, 1940.

w. F. NEWHOUSE BASKET MACHINE Fil ed Oct. 3. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fl fi J H MILE.

INVENTOR.

Z ti: 7

V 0 ATTORNEY.

w. F. NEWHOUSE 2.200.560

BASKET MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1938 s Sheets-sheaf 4 INVENTOR.

BY fl/a ermwkouse ATTRNEY.

May 14, 1940,

W. F. NEWHOUSE BASKET MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 il/aer Z? M22229? ATTORNEY.

y 14, 1940- I w. F. NEWHOUSE ,200,560

BASKET, MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ml 'h a/w F M will ATTORNEY.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlE Application October 3,

53 Claims.

1 This invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of baskets, such as bushel and halfbushel baskets, or other round containers, and more particularly to machinery of this kind for stapling the hoops and staves together, so that the basket or other round container is complete when it leaves the machine.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby staples for each hoop are driven in pairs, with both members of each pair exactly radial to the axis of the rotary form on which the basket or other round container is made, thereby to increase the speed of production, and to insure against defective driving of the staples, by so inserting the latter that each staple is driven at right angles to the thickness of the hoop and to the thickness of the stave of the basket, thus better insuring against weakening of the struci'H ture of the container. or loosening of the mate- 12. and features of construction and combinations Iii) tending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of a stapling machine of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichi Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a basket machine embodying the principles of the invention, of that particular kind known as a hamper machine, the basket being of that type.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the so-called hamper type of basket made on said machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a fragment of the upper hoop or rim structure of the said hamper basket.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

5 is an enlarged side'elevation of the upper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, showing the hamper basket in axial section on the form, and showing certain other portions broken away for convenience of illustration.

6 is a vertical transverse section on line 8-6 in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Fig. '7 is a more or less vertical axial section on line 1-! in. Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section on line 88 in Fig. 5 of the drawings. 1

1938, Serial No. 232,966

Fig. 9 is a similar section on line -4! in Fig. of the drawings.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line iii-10 in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Fig. 11 is a similar section on line I l--| I in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal detail section, on a larger scale, on line lZ-IZ in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Fig. 13 is a perspective of the separated parts of the universal joint involved in the stapling mechanism of said machine.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and. showing a different form of the invention, the machine in this case being adapted to make an ordinary bushel basket.

Fig. 15 is a perspective of the type of bushel, or half-bushel, basket made on the machine shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the flat mat or staves from which either the basket shown in Fig. 15 is made, or the basket shown in Fig. 1'7, depending upon which type of basket is desired.

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective of the so-called round bottom basket.

Fig. 18 is a view similar to'Fig. 6, showing a difierent form of the invention.

Fig. 19 is a similar view, showing a different form of the invention.

As thus illustrated, and referring to Figs. 1 to 13 of the drawings, it will be seen that a body frame I is provided, upon which a tapered basket form 2 is mounted to rotate about an inclined axis, any suitable means being provided for intermittently rotating the form.

Fig. 2 shows the type of so-called hamper basket made on the machine shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and it will be seen that a basket of this kind comprises the top and bottom hoops 3 and 4, and the middle or intermediate hoop 5, surrounding the converging staves 6, with a solid bottom I, in the form of a wooden disk, stapled in place by the staples that hold the bottom hoop 4 in position. The staves and bottom can be assembled on the form 2, or the staves can be assembled in a flat mat and then brought to the machine in that condition. There are various methods of doing that, and the form 2 can be equipped accordingly, depending upon which method of assembly is desired.

A ratchet feed 3, of any suitable character, can be provided for intermittently rotating the said form, subject to pedal control 9, of any suitable character.

The well known guides Ill are provided for directing and guiding the hoop strips into position to be stapled in place on the tapered basket, shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For each hoop, there is a pair of simultaneously operated staplers, so that the staples of each hoop are driven in pairs, and the members of each pair are both exactly radial to the axis of the form upon which the basket is made. For example, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the stapling mechanism H, for the top hoop of the basket, comprises a pair of converging staple formers and drivers l2, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, with the casing of the formers and drivers and cooperating parts adjustably mounted upon the horizontal bar l3, which is rigid with the body frame, and which projects outwardly over the rotary basket form. A similar parallel bar I4 is disposed above the bar [3, and is reciprocated up and down by a vertically disposed member l5, which latter is suitably connected with a crank device [6 to receive power from the driven pulley I! through the medium of a suitable clutch l8 controlled by the pedal I 9, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be seen that the rods 20 connect the staple drivers to the reciprocating head 2|, which latter is adjustably mounted on the bar l4, these rods having pivots 22 at their upper ends, and also pivots 23 at their lower ends, to compensate or allow for the movement of the staple formers and drivers toward and away from each other, owing to the downwardly converging arrangement thereof. Adjustable cushion spring devices 24 are preferably provided for the upper ends of the rods 20, so that the impact of each staple former and driver on the hoop is desirably cushioned, preventing crushing of the materials.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a similar pair of converging staplers 25 and 26 for the middle hoop of the basket. It will be understood that they are connected to the vertically reciprocating bar I4 in the manner previously described, it being observed that the staplers thus provided for the top and middle hoops operate at right angles to the top surface of the basket into which the staples are being driven.

However, the staples for the bottom hoop of the basket shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, must be driven at right angles to the axis of the rotary form, and for this purpose the two converging staplers 2'! and 28 must be arranged as shown. in the drawings, and more particularly in Fig. 5, so that the staples will be driven not only radially of the axis of the form, but also exactly at right angles thereto, in order that these staples may properly enter the wooden basket I, constituting the bottom wall of the basket, for the so-called hamper baskets are preferably provided with bottoms of this character, each bottom having a center hole for engagement with the center pin 29 on the end of the rotary basket form, thus holding the said basket bottom or board in position on the form to receive the staples from the converging staplers 2'! and 28, previously mentioned. The connections betwen the staplers 21 and 28, and the reciprocating bar M, are similar to those previously described, but in this case the lower ends of the rods 30 must have a compensating action that is somewhat different from those previously described, and for this purpose the lower end of each rod 30 is provided with a universal joint connection with the upper end of its staple driver. such as the universal joint shown in Figs. 11 and 13 of the drawings. It will be seen, in other words, that the lower end portion 3| of each rod is adapted to embrace a pin 32 that is rotatably mounted in the holes 33 of the upper end of its alloted staple driver, and that the portion 3! and the pin 32 are fastened together by a smaller pin 34, when the parts are properly assembled. In this way, the action is effective, notwithstanding that the rods 30 are not in line with the staplers 2'! and 28, but are at an angle thereto, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. This also means, of course, that the upper ends of the rods 30 must have a somewhat different mounting on the cross head 35, which latter is adjustably mounted on the bar I4, and this connection is shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, in which it will be seen that the pivots 36 and 3'! permit of a universal joint action to allow for some tilting of the rods at these points.

In each case, however, as shown and described, each hoop is stapled in place by a pair of converging staplers, so that the staples are driven radially of the axis of the rotary basket form, and by driving the staples in pairs, the machine is much faster than would be the case if only one staple were driven at a time in each hoop. Also, by insuring that each pair of staples will be driven convergingly, and radially, in each hoop, a better basket construction is insured than would be the case if the members of each pair of staples were driven parallel to each other, for in such case the staples would not enter the materials at right angles to the thickness thereto, but, to the contrary, would enter obliquely, and the result would not be a satisfactory product from the standpoint of strength and durability.

However, with each staple driven exactly at right angles to the thickness of the material, radially of the basket and the rotary basket form, it follows that each staple is solidly embedded in the materials, with its outside head as close to its inside clinched points as possible, so that the staples are not likely to become loosened by rough handling of the baskets when loaded. It is even possible to use less wire for the staples, when they are thus driven in pairs, with both members of each pair inserted exactly at right angles to the thickness of the materials, than would be the case if they were inserted obliquely, and in addition the right angle insertion insures a better clinching of the inner points of the staples on the rotary basket form. In addition, with the staples thus driven radially. at exactly right angles to the thickness of the materials, the resulting strains in the machine are more advantageously distributed. as the pressure or impact of each staple driver is directly in line radially with the axis of the rotary basket form, and hence such impact has no tendency to turn the rotary form and basket in either direction. In other words, the effect in some ways is exactly as though only one staple was driven at a time. in each hoop, exactly radially to the axis of the form, and at right angles to the thickness of the materials. To say it in another way, with the members of each pair of staplers arranged in a converging manner, so that each stapler is radial of the axis of the rotary basket form, the two staplers are not working against each other. and neither one is trying to outbalance the other on the axis of the rotary form. 3

Referring to Fig. 18 of the drawings, it will be seen that this shows a curved bar 38, as the reciprocating head of the pair of staplers 39 and 40, in combination with a curved stationary lower bar 4|, upon which the casings of the staplers are adjustably mounted, as that the two staplers in Fig. 17 of the drawings.

. bottom or the round bottom basket. the form 52 is shaped to make the bottom constituting the pair can be adjusted toward and away from each other to vary the distance between the staples. Adjusting means 42 can be provided, of any suitable character, for adjusting the upper ends of the rods 43 on the bar 33, the latter having a groove for that purpose, and in this way the two staplers forming the pair can be adjusted toward and away from each other, in a manner to insure their proper cooperative action, but also in a manner to vary the distance between the members of the pair of staples driven by this pair of staplers.

In Fig. 1 9, the construction is similar, but in this case the lower curved bar M is mount-ed to move endwise on rollers 35, and the upper curved bar 46 is mounted to move endwise on rollers ll, and with a cam 48, or other means, for moving each bar back and forth, it is obvious that the two staplers i9, constituting the pair, may be made to move back and forth about the axis of the rotary basket form, so that continuous feed can be used for the rotation of the basket and the form, instead of intermittent feed. In other words, with the construction indicated in Fig. 19 of the drawings, the staple-rs can act on the basket materials while the latter are rotating continuously about the axis of the form, and the two staplers will ride along a short distance on said materials while the two staples are actually being inserted in the materials, and will then move back to normal position for the next operation, springs El, for the other ends of the bars 44 and 36, being provided for this purpose, or any suitable means for reciprocating these curved bars aboutthe axis of the rotary basket form, so that all of the staplers may act on continuously moving. or rotating basket materials, instead of on materials that are subject to intermittent feed, which latter is employed in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 14, l5, l6 and 17 of the drawings, the converging staplers are employed on a machine for making either a tub type of basket, as shown in Fig. 15, or a so-called round bottom basket, as indicated in Fig. 17 of the drawings. The common and well known mat of staves, shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings, can be used for making either the straight side or fiat bottom basket, as shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings, or for making the round bottom basket, as shown If the mat is to be used for making the three-hoop basket shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings, then the staves may or may not be scored on a circle, so that they may bend or break sharply under the bottom hoop 5 of the basket, but when the mat is used for making a round bottom basket, then such. scoring or creasing or breaking is not necessary.

As shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings, the machine is of a well known and common type comprising a rotary and reciprocating tapered basket form. 52 adapted to cooperate with the stationary hollow mold 53 for the bending and shaping of the staves of the mat to form either the hat In Fig. 14,

basket shown in Fig. 15, but it is easy to substitute a rounded form to make the round bottom basket, as is common and well. known. The three pairs of. staplers 54 are of the kind previously described, each pair comprising two converging staplers, each complete with its staple former and driver, loop bar and other elements, necessary for the cutting off of a piece of wire, the bending there of into suitable form, and the insertion of the staple inthe' basket materials. These elements of a stapling mechanism are common and well known, and do not need any further description.

However, it will be seen that in Fig. 14, the axis of the basket form is horizontal, instead of being inclined as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the axis is thus horizontal, the said staplers must be stepped, so to speak, so that the pair of staplers for the top. hoop 55 is farther from the axis of the rotary basket form, while the pair of staplers for the middle hoop 56 is somewhat nearer said axis, and the third pair of staplers for the bottom hoop 5i is the nearest to the axis of the three pairs shown in the drawings. It will be understood that in Fig. 14, suitable guides may be provided for receiving the hoop strips from which the hoops of the basket are made and fastened to the staves thereof, and in Fig. l l, ordinary intermittent feeding motion is indicated for the rotation of the basket form and the basket thereon.

In each form. of the invention, therefore, it will be seen. that a pair of converging staplers is used for driving a pair of staples into a hoop, so that the two staples enter simultaneously, and are each inserted radially of the axis of the form, at exactly right angles to the thickness of the materials. While each stapling unit thus comprises only two staplers, two staple fo-rmers and two staple drivers, it is obvious that three converging staplers could be used or any suitable number in accordance with the broader conception of the invention, which is a plurality of converging staplers operating to simultaneously insert a plurality of staples, each radial to the axis of rotation and exactly at right angles to the thickness of the materials. In this way, as is obvious, the output of the machine is speeded up considerably, and while, with the construction shown and described, only two staples are driven simultaneously each time in each hoop. it is conceivable that the logical development of the invention might easily be embodied in a machine in which one-half of the total number of staples are driven in each hoop, for each stroke of the staplers, so; that the basket is then just simply turned over a one-half rotation to receive the other one-half of the total number of staples for each hoop, and in. such case there will be only two strokes of the staplers for each basket. Thus, the invention. ranges from that to the minimum number of two staples for each hoop, for each stroke of the staplers, which minimum is the particular form of the invention shown and de scribed. In any event, for each stroke of the staplers, a plurality of staples are driven simultaneously in each hoop, or in. a hoop, depending upon the character of the basket or similar product, for the invention is not limited to the production of containers of the particular character shown and described.

Looking at Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the heads of the staples 58 are not parallel, but are disposed at angles to each other, and this is done by skewing one stapler of each converging pair relatively to the other stapler of the same pair. Obviously, this can be done in a manner to position the staples at different angles, as may be desired.

It will be understood, of course, that when it is stated that each staple is driven or inserted at right angles to the thickness of the materials, what is meant is that the staple is thus at right angles when the structure is viewed axially. Of course, when the structure is viewed laterally, as in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the staples that are inserted into the head 1- are not at right angles to the thickness of the hoop or of the staves, but each of these staples is at right angles to the thickness of the hoop when the basket structure is viewed axially. Obviously, however, each of the staples of the top and middle hoops is inserted at right angles to the thickness of the hoops and the staves, and especially of the latter, for it depends somewhat upon how the hoops are formed, whether they are conical or cylindrical. But, in any event, each staple is inserted at right angles to the thickness of the hoops and the staves when the basket structure is viewed axially, as shown in Fig. 4, and that means that each staple is practically radial to the axis of rotation, as previously explained.

With the arrangement shown and described, and while both staples of each pair are driven and clinched simultaneously, it is obvious that the action of neither stapler tends in any way to rotate the basket and the tapered form on which it is made. This is because the thrust of each staple driver is exactly radial to the axis of the basket and the basket form, and hence no harm can result if the two staplers are not timed exactly together. In other words, one could operate slightly ahead of the other, or have initial contact with the basket slightly ahead of the other, without tending to rotate the basket and the basket form. In actual practice, the two E staplers of each pair are timed to operate in synchronism with each other, but even if they were not exactly synchronized, the invention tends to prevent any injurious results therefrom.

By skewing the staples, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that each staple head is more or less crosswise of the grain of the wood of the staves 6, as well as crosswise of the grain of the wood of the hoops of the basket, for the grain runs lengthwise or circumferentially in the hoops. This tends to guard against splitting of the materials, and by skewing one staple of the pair difierently from the other, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the staple legs of the two staples are not in line circumferentially, and that in this way there is less liability of splitting of the hoop.

Obviously, also, one staple of each pair can be larger or wider than the other if such is necessary or desirable, but ordinarily the staples can all be of the same width and length, so that the same amount of wire is involved in the formation of each staple.

When it is stated that the staplers are radially arranged, so that each staple is radial to the axis of the rotary basket form, it will be understood that this includes any arrangement whereby the staplers are practically radial, as the invention is not limited, of course, to a structure in which the staplers are exactly radial, to an exact nicety, as any arrangement in which the members of each pair of stables are arranged convergingly, relative to each other, so that each stapler is practically or substantially radial to the axis of the rotary basket form, will obviously serve the purpose and be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Moreover, it is obvious that by relatively arranging the staplers as shown, so that the staples are arranged as indicated in Fig. 3, every other staple will have a difierent angle, which means that the alternate staples will be at one angle, while the intermediate staples will be at a different angle, resulting in a stronger construction. When the staples are driven radially, or substantially radially, the point of one leg of each staple can be clinched in one direction, and the other point of the other leg of each staple can be clinched in the opposite direction, resulting in a stronger and better construction for the fabricated basket or other container. When the staple is driven radially to the axis of the rotary basket form, it is possible for both points to initially penetrate the basket materials simultaneously, instead of having one point enter ahead of the other, and this results in a better construction in the stapling of the hoops and staves together.

Of course, while a tapered or frustro-conical basket or hamper style container is shown, it is obvious that the broader aspects of the invention can be employed in the production of a cylindrical container, for example, and for the production of containers of other shapes, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Thus for the first time a stapling machine is provided for rotating a container about a fixed axis, for inserting successive pluralities of staples in the container, on the line of a circle struck from said axis, so that the staples all converge to the axis, and with all the staples in the annular row or circle intersecting a plane at right angles to said axis, regardless of whether the staples are inserted parallel with said plane, or inserted at an angle thereto, for in either case all of the members of each successive plurality of staples converge to said axis and intersect said plane.

While the invention is shown as being used specifically for stapling, it is obvious that it can be used for other purposes, for performing other operations, in the broader aspect thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Of course, it is obvious that the springs 24, as shown and described, serve as spring-comensating means to compensate for any difference in thickness as between the point where one staple is inserted through basket hoops, and the point where the other staple is inserted, the two staples being driven simultaneously. For example, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, assume that the staple driven by one stapler is caused to pass through a different thickness from that at the point where the other staple is inserted, as by inserting one staple through the overlap at the ends of the hoops, and by inserting the other staple at one side of said overlap. In such case, one staple would be compelled to pass through a greater thickness than the other, and while both staplers are actuated by a single vertically reciprocating head, simultaneously, it is obvious that the compensating springs 24 will serve to compensate for said difference in thickness, thereby serving to prevent breakage of either the machine or the materials being operated upon. Thus means are provided for inserting wire in materials at a plurality of spaced points thereon, by one complete operation of the machine, having separate spring-compensating means for each point of insertion, for the purpose shown and described.

Looking at Fig. 6 of the drawings, for example, it will be seen that the actuating rods 20 are each directly in line with its allotted stapler, in the normal condition of the machine, which means when the actuating head or bar I 4 is in its raised position. This, of course, tends to minimize lateral thrust in the staplers, which would not be true if the rods 20 were vertical or arranged to converge upwardly, for example, as in such case there would be considerable lateral ill) thrust in the staplers as between the formers and drivers and the stationary housing or casing of each stapler.

,pressing the spring 24 in'the desired manner.

Each spring, it will be seen, is enclosed in a cylindrical casing 58, and the upper end of each verging to said axis, disposed in. a plane transverse of said axis, and means for'simultaneously operating said drivers, thereby to simultaneously insert staples that converge to said axis, with all staples on theline of a circle struck from said axis. 7

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said drivers being radial, so that the staples are all radial,

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, having converging guides in which said drivers move toward and away from each other, in said plane.

. 4. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising a rotary form to support the materials,

and compensating means for the converging staplers, so that the drivers thereof may in effect move toward and away from each other when reciprocated, and means for effecting such reciprocation.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said staplers being disposed at right angles to the container side and obliquely to the axis of rotation.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said staplers being disposed obliquely to the container side and. at right angles to the axis of rotation.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, there being, provisions for adjusting said staplers toward and away from each other, thereby to change the spacing of andvary the distance between the staples.

8. A structure as specified inclaim 1, said axis being disposed in a vertical plane, and there being two staplers that are spaced apart so that they act upon the materials at points equidistant from opposite sides of said vertical plane.

9. A structure as specified in claim 1, said axis of rotation being tilted so that the staplers are oblique to said axis of rotation when viewed laterally thereof,

10. A structure as specified inclaim 1, said axis being tilted, and said staplers being each inclined at right angles to said axis of rotation.

11. A structure as specified in claim 1, one stapler being skewed relatively to the other, so that the exposed heads of the staples in one and the same circular row are at angles to each other.

12. A structure as specified in claim .1, said axis. of rotation being horizontal, and said staplersv being at right angles to said axis.

13. A structure as specified in claim 1, said axis being horizontal, and said staplers operating in a vertical transverse plane.

14. A structure as specified. in claim 1, said axis of rotation'being horizontal, said staplers forming a multiple unit, and there being one or.

more similar units, each unit being a different distance from said axis of rotation, thereby to operate upon atapered container.

15. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising a tapered rotary form to. support the materials for rotation, with the axis of the form tilted or inclined, the staplers forming a multiple unit, in combination with one or more additional units, at least one unit operating in avertical plane, and one unit operating in an inclined plane.

16. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising a tapered rotary basket form to support the materials for rotation, said form rotating about a horizontal axis, said staplers forming a multiple unit, in combination with one or more similar units, and each unit operating in a vertical transverse plane,

17. A structure as specified in claim l,said staplers comprising a multiple unit, and this unit being movable a distance with therotation of the materials, so that the latter may be given a continuous rotary feed. 1

18. A structure as specified in claim 1, said materials having an intermittent feed, and said staplers forming a multipl unit, with thelatter held against lateral movement to drive the staples in successive pairs on a circle, while the materialsare stationery, with the members of each pair converging in the plane of said circle.

- 19. A structure as specified in claim 1, said staplers each having a casing, and the several casings being rigidly connected together, and provisions for lateral adjustment between the casings, thereby to changeor vary the distance betweenthe staples inserted on a circumferential anupper vertically reciprocating horizontal bar,

the two bars being parallel and disposed in the vertical plane of said axis of rotation, said staplers comprising a multiple unit, and there being one or more additional units, thereby to insert staples on two or more circumferential circles struck from said axis of rotation.

21. A structure as specified'in claim 1, the staplers being arranged to insert the staples on a circumferential circle struck from said axis of rotation, the staplers constituting a multiple unit, and means whereby this unit has circumferential motion for a distance in unison with the circumferential motion of the basket materials, in order that the latter may have a continuous rotary feed, while the staples are actually being inserted in the materials, and means whereby the unit is. returned to its normal position after each driving operation.

22. A structure as specified in claim 1, each driver having, a pivot at its upper end, downfor actuating said compensating devices up and down in unison, thereby to operate said drivers.

23. A structure as specified in claim 1, each driver having apivot at its upper end, downwardly converging rods each normally in alignment with one of said drivers, connected to the pivot thereof, compensating spring devices pivoted to. the upper portions of said rods, and means for actuating said compensating devices up and down in unison, thereby to operate said drivers, the said pivots of said rods forming parallel axes that are parallel with the said axis of rotation.

24. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising rods having their lower ends pivoted on the upper ends of said drivers, and means for actuating said rods up and down to actuate said drivers.

25. In a basket machine, adapted to operate by rotating the basket materials about an axis, and stapling the materials during such rotation, the combination of a plurality of converging staplers forming a multiple unit to insert a plurality of staples by each stroke thereof in the said materials, on the line of a circle struck from said axis, with each staple having a direction of insertion on a line intersecting said axis, so that all staples in said circle converge to said axis, means forming axes to allow for the converging action of said staplers, and means for suitably rotating the materials and for actuating the stapling unit in timed relation.

26. A structure as specified in claim 25, said rotation being intermittent, so that each plurality of staples is inserted on the line of a circle while the basket materials are stationary.

27. A structure as specified in claim 25, said unit being mounted to move a distance with the materials, while the staples are being inserted, and to then move back to normal position after the insertion of the staples, thereby to permit the said materials to rotate continuously without interruption until the basket is completely stapled together.

28. In a stapling machine, for stapling a container, the combination of means for supporting the container materials for rotation about an axis, and stapling mechanism arranged in cooperative relation to said supporting means, operative to simultaneously insert converging staples in the materials, in a row circumferentially of the container, having means whereby the heads of the alternate staples are disposed at one angle, and the heads of the intermediate staples are disposed at a different angle.

29. A structure as specified in claim 28, said mechanism being disposed to insert the staples radially 0f the axis of rotation of the container.

30. In a machine for performing successive pluralities of simultaneous operations on work, at different successive points thereon, the combination of means providing an axis of rotation for the work, means for holding the work for rotation about said axis, mechanism for simultaneously performing a plurality of operations on the work on the line of a circle struck from said axis, having means whereby to insert converging fasteners in the work, in directions converging to said axis, and means for rotatively advancing the work about said axis to receive successive pluralities of simultaneous fastener inserting operations thereon, the rotation of said work being continuous and said mechanism being movable a distance with the work while operating on the latter.

31. In a machine for performing successive pluralities of simultaneous operations on work, at different successive points thereon, the combination of means providing an axis of rotation for the work, means for holding the work for rotation about said axis, mechanism for simultaneously performing a plurality of operations on the Work on the line of a circle struck from said axis, having means thereby to insert converging fasteners in the work, in directions converging to i said axis, and means for rotatively advancing the work about said axis to receive successive pluralities of simultaneous fastener inserting operations thereon, comprising a vertically reciprocating head, actuating rods converging from said head to said axis, in normal position, pivots for the lower ends of said rods, on said mechanism, and means for pivoting the rods on the opposite sides of said head.

32. In a machine for performing successive to said axis, and means for rotatively advancing the work about said axis to receive successive pluralities of simultaneous fastener inserting operations thereon, comprising a vertically reciproeating head, actuating rods converging from said head to said axis, in normal position, pivots for the lower ends of said rods, on said mechanism, and means for pivoting the rods on the opposite sides of said head, together with spring cushioning or compensating means for the upper end portions of said rods, whereby said mechanism has 1:. cushioning or yielding engagement with the wor 33. A machine for inserting wire in wood hoops or other material at a plurality of spaced points thereon, by one complete operation of the machine, comprising reciprocating separate springcompensating means for each point, providing a plurality of compensating devices acting on the same hoop, serving to compensate for any difference in thickness of the materials at the different points of insertion onthe same circle and to insure substantially uniform and eifective fastening of the hoop at each point, by said reciprocation of said compensating spring means regardless of whether the thickness is the same or different at said points.

34; A structure as specified in claim 33, said spring-compensating means being connected to staple drivers and formers, to simultaneously drive a plurality of staples at said points of insertion.

35. A structure as specified in claim 33, said axis being horizontal, and said Spring-compensating means having directions of operation converging to said axis.

36. A structure as specified in claim 33, said axis being tilted, and said spring-compensating means comprising movable parts normally converging and radial to said axis.

3'7. A structure as specified in claim 33, said spring-compensating means comprising movable parts normally converging and radial to said axis.

38. A structure as specified in claim 33, said spring-compensating means comprising movable parts normally converging to said axis, but oblique to the latter.

39. A structure as specified in claim 33, comprising means for inserting separate pieces of wire at the said spaced points of insertion.

40. A stapling machine comprising a support for the Work to be stapled, a vertically reciprocating horizontal bar, a rotary work support having its axis disposed in the plane of said bar, a pair of staplers disposed below said bar and converging to said axis to simultaneously insert a pair of staples on the line of a circle struck from said axis, each stapler having a housing, a support having means to hold the two housings stationary in fixed relation to each other during the operation of the machine, and actuating means mounted on the opposite sides of said bar and having depending rods formed at their lower ends to simultaneously actuate said staplers in their housings.

41. A structure as specified in claim 40, said actuating means being provided with compensating spring means on the upper end portion of said rods to compensate for any difierence of thickness at the points where the staples are inserted in the work.

42. A structure as specified in claim 40, said actuating means having pivotal connection at the lower ends thereof with said staplers.

43. A structure as specified in claim 40, said staplers being radial to said axis, but said rods having non-radial positions, x

44. A structure as specified in claim 40, comprising means to actuate said bar in said plane to actuate said converging staplers by converging movement of said rods.

45. A structure as specified in claim 40, said axis being parallel with said bar.

46. A structure as specified in claim 40, said axis being tilted at an angle in said plane.

47. A structure as specified in claim 40, said actuating means having movable parts in normal position converging downwardly in the planes of said staplers to minimize side thrust in the latter.

48. A rotary basket or round container form, a pair of staplers converging to the axis of said form, so that both staples driven by said staplers are on the line of a circle struck from said axis, and actuating means converging to said staplers, and toward said form, in the planes of the staplers, when in normal position, thereby to minimize side thrust in said staplers in the simultaneous operation thereof.

49. A machine for making containers, by rotating the materials about an axis and stapling them together, by an annular row of staples, all converging to said axis, comprising power operated mechanism for automatically rotating the container about said axis, a plurality of staplers converging to said axis and timed and co-ordinated with said mechanism for simultaneously driving and inserting a plurality of staples in the materials, on the line of a circle struck from said axis, so that each simultaneously inserted staple is driven in a plane radial of said axis, and with all of the staples in said row intersecting a plane at right angles to said axis, there being provisions for adjusting said staplers toward and away from each other, thereby to change the spacing of and vary the distance between the staples.

50. A machine for making containers, by rotating the materials about an axis and stapling them together, by an annular row of staples, all converging to said axis, comprising power operated mechanism for automatically rotating the container about said axis, a plurality of staplers converging to said axis and timed and coordinated with said mechanism for simultaneously driving and inserting a plurality of staples in the materials, on the line of a circle struckfrom said axis, so that each simultaneously inserted staple is driven in a plane radial of said axis, and with all of the staples in said row intersecting a plane at right angles to said axis, said staplers each having a casing, and the several casings being rigidly connected together, and provisions for lateral adjustment between the casings, thereby to change or vary the distance between the staples inserted on a circumferential circle struck from aid axis of rotation.

51. A stapling machine comprising a support for the work to be stapled, a vertically reciprocating horizontal bar, a rotary work support having its axis disposed in the plane'of said bar, a pair of staplers disposed below said bar and converging to said axis to simultaneously insert a pair of staples on the line of a circle struck from said axis, and actuating means mounted on the opposite sides of said bar to simultaneously actuate said staplers, said actuating means having pivotal connection at the lower ends thereofwith said staplers.

52. A structure as specified in claim 51, said axis being at right angles to said plane.

53. A structure as specified in claim 51, said axis being oblique to said plane.

WALTER F. NEWHOUSE. 

